Sorry for my delay. I have been working to try to get this done. I have
probably lost most of my readers so those who have stayed I thank you.
World's Bravest (part 1)
Invitation
Wolfman opened up the set of letters in front of everyone else. They had been enjoying their week off after a mission that was finally deemed "successful". Wolfman smiled as he read the contents of the letters that were delivered just minutes prior.
Wolfman chuckled. "Surprise surprise. We were invited to Ambassador Chomber's resigning party. He is quitting the last job of his career."
He didn't address the invitations, but they knew that after they saved him in Morocco, an event like this was certain to happen.
Wolfman put them on his desk. "I don't think we should go. We wouldn't want to jeopardize this at the end."
Luwanda chuckled. "Oh God, give it a rest. Vega has been fine even around us. He won't forget his role merely because we show up. It's been a while since we have gotten any respect. I say we take it."
Matthew chuckled. "Count me and Pidge out. We have plans for that night."
Cammy laughed. "Oh yes, you have your little tournament you always watch. Don't you ever think about anything other than fighting?"
Matthew shot a cold look to her. "Do you know how much it would cost to get a tuxedo my size? Besides that, watching the tournament is much funner than dancing is. Right George?"
George nodded his head. "Yeah, dancing sucks. You do the same steps to the same boring music." George over-exaggerated when he mimicked dancing. They could only chuckle in response.
Wolfman smiled. "I guess you're right. We have nothing to worry about. A night at a ball would be a great way to put Morocco behind us."
The ball was scheduled to take place three days later.
The Encounter
It looked just like the dress she had worn so long ago. Like the one from that final night in Spain with Vega. She remembered that night at the Saló del Tinell so vividly. She remembered the crowded dance hall and the immense feeling of loneliness even though so many people surrounded her. She remembered the large women nearly ambushing her from behind. She even remembered the blood dripping from Vega's claw. Like the dreams, which gave her a glimpse of her past, she long desired to get rid of them. She thought that she had succeeded also, but when she saw the dress everything changed. The years of lost memories seemed to return to her. The years of pain before the Shadaloo mission. The agony she felt when she had to fight Vega. The terror when Doctrine shot her. When the thought of Dark entered her mind she threw the red dress to the ground. Even looking at the dress, which did no more than look like the one from Spain still gave her chills. She took a deep breath. She still had two days to get over it. She put it away in her closet where it had remained for so long. She sat in the dark with her pink sundress and her long hair trailing down her back. She was startled by a knock on the door.
She opened the door to see the man who's retirement she was soon to celebrate. She whispered harshly. "What are you doing here?"
He replied with a mere two words. "They know."
Cammy let him in and shut the door. "What are you talking about? Who knows what?"
Vega shook his head. "My colleagues. They know I'm not the ambassador. They know it from the differences between us. I cannot speak of my past or of my personal likes. They have been on to me for a while now." Vega sat down on the couch. "They are going to put it together and figure out who I really am. I know they will."
Cammy patted him on the back. "How can they know? You were supposed to have been dead for several years now. No one knows of your identity. Don't worry, you are safe now."
Vega shook his head. "They have been following me. You are the only person I knew I could turn to."
Cammy never thought she would see Vega like this. He was in a panic. "Calm down, Vega. You will be fine."
Vega hastily responded. "This is terrible. What am I going to do after the dance? Do I just disappear and confirm their suspicions? Do I live life pretending to be who I am not? We never planned this out when we left Morocco. This is a hell of a lot harder than we could have ever anticipated. There are so many things that could make this fail. We can't make this work. It's impossible."
Cammy turned his face toward hers. "This will work. You are just being paranoid. Calm down. Everything will be all right. The party will be a success and we will find a way to make this work. But we cannot if you don't play your part. You will be fine. Trust me."
Vega looked into her eyes. Despite everything that could go wrong, he believed her. Something about her had changed him deeply. He rubbed his hand on the side of her face and smiled. She looked down to the floor and smiled. Vega rose to his feet and turned. He left out of the back door and made his way to the top of the building. Once again he jumped the London rooftops. It was harder than walking, but it didn't bother him. He was alive.
The Dance
She opened the door to see Wolfman in a tuxedo standing before her. Luwanda was beside him in a blue dress.
They looked at her with a shocked expression. Luwanda talked in awe. "Cammy, you look beautiful."
Cammy shyly smiled. It was odd for all of them. They had never seen each other so formally. There was a carriage on the curb. Wolfman explained. "Something provided for all the guests of the dance."
Cammy nodded and they all got in the carriage. "So, where was this dance?" Cammy asked anxiously.
Wolfman nodded his head. "Funny, I forgot too look there on the invitations. Oh well, it shouldn't be long until we arrive."
In front of them was a beautifully lit building surrounded by trees. The coachman opened the door and they cautiously stepped out. It was a situation they were not accustomed to. Inside there was a crowded dance hall in front of a table which six men were sitting out. They recognized the British Prime minister and Vega among them. A man in suit greeted them and brought them to a table near the dance floor. Luwanda looked around at the wealthy people standing around. The six men at the top were all laughing and drinking their wine. There was a band, which was setting up to play.
She shook her head and sighed. "I just feel so out of place here."
Cammy chuckled. "Don't worry about it. These dances are nothing. Me and Vega went to one..."
She stopped herself short while Luwanda and Wolfman were staring at her. She was thinking of what she would say to explain when the music started playing. She stood up and forced them together. "Hey, why don't you two dance? It will be fun." She pushed them out onto the floor then walked away and sat down again. She let out a sigh of relief.
She sat watching the dancers for a few minutes when she felt a tap on her shoulders. She was surprised to turn around and see Vega standing there. "Now what is a pretty lady like you doing without a partner?"
She smiled and took his outstretched hand. They walked to the dance floor as a band began to play another song. The men left at the head table watched them. One of them spoke with a stiff voice. "It appears that you were wrong. And I have won the bet."
The other one scowled. "He was never like this before. It was only natural to see him as a little queer."
The third man had a stern look on his face. "Something is not right about him. He is much too different than he used to be. And he has been quite anxious as of late."
The first man looked at him. "Anyone in his situation would be anxious to get out of his job."
The third responded. "No, it's not that. It's something more. Chombers was never a fighter, yet he played an integral role in the Moroccan mission. He was always talkative, yet he has kept too himself as of late. He doesn't respond to his name and his laugh is very different. It's of a much higher pitch."
The second man questioned him. "And what exactly are you insinuating?"
The third never averted his gaze. "That this man may not be Nigel."
The first man scoffed. 'That's preposterous. Who the hell would that man be then?"
The third's frown grew. "That I do not know."
While they were talking the dance floor seemed to stop. They were all watching Vega and Cammy. They danced marvelously in the middle of the floor. A knock was heard on the window but the majority of those on the floor gave it no regard. They couldn't ignore the screams, which came when a multitude came running along.
One of the men pulled a runner inside. "What is the meaning of this? What is going on?"
The man was grasping for breath. "Explosion, downtown, big, fire." The man was babbling and the other man pushed him away.
Wolfman and Luwanda looked at each other. "I guess the dance is over." They nodded and ran out. Cammy followed and despite the glare of the men at the table Vega followed them.
The movement was slow against the crowd. Vega caught up to them. "It would be faster if we moved atop of the buildings. We wouldn't have to worry about the current."
Wolfman turned his head to him and nodded. They ran into an ally and Wolfman and Luwanda began to climb the fire extinguisher. Vega grabbed Cammy and leapt up the wall. They waited at the top for Wolfman and Luwanda then began to run across the rooftops. They could see the black smoke in the air as they got closer to the city. When the reached the final rooftop they stopped cold in their tracks.
Vega looked around at the wreckage. "Oh my god, Matthew and George are down there?"
Cammy's eyes widened. "My god, they are!"
Cammy, Wolfman, and Luwanda looked at each other. There was now no one coming out of the city. They made their way down from the building and walked into the smoking wreckage. Whole chunks of buildings were knocked off and sat on the ground. Brick sides were charred black and windows were blown out. They heard sirens approaching as they walked through. A wall, which was lying on a rubble heap, collapsed and they saw movement. When they saw Matthew slowly rising to his feet Cammy ran to him and hugged him. Everyone else also ran up to him. Luwanda grabbed and held George close to her. Matthew had shielded him.
Wolfman looked around them only to find that there were no more survivors. "What happened here? Who did this?"
Matthew was breathing heavily. "The man. He pointed any everything was gone."
Wolfman was confused. "One man? How could one man do this?"
Matthew had the same tone. "He said no one was worthy. He pointed to the ground, and everything blew up. Me and George were already gone, that's how we survived."
Luwanda looked at Wolfman. "One man?"
He nodded his head. "If Matthew says it was, than I believe him. But what I want to know is what kind of power it is that could destroy a portion of a city this large." He looked up on the horizon. "And what will it take to stop it?"
World's Bravest (part 1)
Invitation
Wolfman opened up the set of letters in front of everyone else. They had been enjoying their week off after a mission that was finally deemed "successful". Wolfman smiled as he read the contents of the letters that were delivered just minutes prior.
Wolfman chuckled. "Surprise surprise. We were invited to Ambassador Chomber's resigning party. He is quitting the last job of his career."
He didn't address the invitations, but they knew that after they saved him in Morocco, an event like this was certain to happen.
Wolfman put them on his desk. "I don't think we should go. We wouldn't want to jeopardize this at the end."
Luwanda chuckled. "Oh God, give it a rest. Vega has been fine even around us. He won't forget his role merely because we show up. It's been a while since we have gotten any respect. I say we take it."
Matthew chuckled. "Count me and Pidge out. We have plans for that night."
Cammy laughed. "Oh yes, you have your little tournament you always watch. Don't you ever think about anything other than fighting?"
Matthew shot a cold look to her. "Do you know how much it would cost to get a tuxedo my size? Besides that, watching the tournament is much funner than dancing is. Right George?"
George nodded his head. "Yeah, dancing sucks. You do the same steps to the same boring music." George over-exaggerated when he mimicked dancing. They could only chuckle in response.
Wolfman smiled. "I guess you're right. We have nothing to worry about. A night at a ball would be a great way to put Morocco behind us."
The ball was scheduled to take place three days later.
The Encounter
It looked just like the dress she had worn so long ago. Like the one from that final night in Spain with Vega. She remembered that night at the Saló del Tinell so vividly. She remembered the crowded dance hall and the immense feeling of loneliness even though so many people surrounded her. She remembered the large women nearly ambushing her from behind. She even remembered the blood dripping from Vega's claw. Like the dreams, which gave her a glimpse of her past, she long desired to get rid of them. She thought that she had succeeded also, but when she saw the dress everything changed. The years of lost memories seemed to return to her. The years of pain before the Shadaloo mission. The agony she felt when she had to fight Vega. The terror when Doctrine shot her. When the thought of Dark entered her mind she threw the red dress to the ground. Even looking at the dress, which did no more than look like the one from Spain still gave her chills. She took a deep breath. She still had two days to get over it. She put it away in her closet where it had remained for so long. She sat in the dark with her pink sundress and her long hair trailing down her back. She was startled by a knock on the door.
She opened the door to see the man who's retirement she was soon to celebrate. She whispered harshly. "What are you doing here?"
He replied with a mere two words. "They know."
Cammy let him in and shut the door. "What are you talking about? Who knows what?"
Vega shook his head. "My colleagues. They know I'm not the ambassador. They know it from the differences between us. I cannot speak of my past or of my personal likes. They have been on to me for a while now." Vega sat down on the couch. "They are going to put it together and figure out who I really am. I know they will."
Cammy patted him on the back. "How can they know? You were supposed to have been dead for several years now. No one knows of your identity. Don't worry, you are safe now."
Vega shook his head. "They have been following me. You are the only person I knew I could turn to."
Cammy never thought she would see Vega like this. He was in a panic. "Calm down, Vega. You will be fine."
Vega hastily responded. "This is terrible. What am I going to do after the dance? Do I just disappear and confirm their suspicions? Do I live life pretending to be who I am not? We never planned this out when we left Morocco. This is a hell of a lot harder than we could have ever anticipated. There are so many things that could make this fail. We can't make this work. It's impossible."
Cammy turned his face toward hers. "This will work. You are just being paranoid. Calm down. Everything will be all right. The party will be a success and we will find a way to make this work. But we cannot if you don't play your part. You will be fine. Trust me."
Vega looked into her eyes. Despite everything that could go wrong, he believed her. Something about her had changed him deeply. He rubbed his hand on the side of her face and smiled. She looked down to the floor and smiled. Vega rose to his feet and turned. He left out of the back door and made his way to the top of the building. Once again he jumped the London rooftops. It was harder than walking, but it didn't bother him. He was alive.
The Dance
She opened the door to see Wolfman in a tuxedo standing before her. Luwanda was beside him in a blue dress.
They looked at her with a shocked expression. Luwanda talked in awe. "Cammy, you look beautiful."
Cammy shyly smiled. It was odd for all of them. They had never seen each other so formally. There was a carriage on the curb. Wolfman explained. "Something provided for all the guests of the dance."
Cammy nodded and they all got in the carriage. "So, where was this dance?" Cammy asked anxiously.
Wolfman nodded his head. "Funny, I forgot too look there on the invitations. Oh well, it shouldn't be long until we arrive."
In front of them was a beautifully lit building surrounded by trees. The coachman opened the door and they cautiously stepped out. It was a situation they were not accustomed to. Inside there was a crowded dance hall in front of a table which six men were sitting out. They recognized the British Prime minister and Vega among them. A man in suit greeted them and brought them to a table near the dance floor. Luwanda looked around at the wealthy people standing around. The six men at the top were all laughing and drinking their wine. There was a band, which was setting up to play.
She shook her head and sighed. "I just feel so out of place here."
Cammy chuckled. "Don't worry about it. These dances are nothing. Me and Vega went to one..."
She stopped herself short while Luwanda and Wolfman were staring at her. She was thinking of what she would say to explain when the music started playing. She stood up and forced them together. "Hey, why don't you two dance? It will be fun." She pushed them out onto the floor then walked away and sat down again. She let out a sigh of relief.
She sat watching the dancers for a few minutes when she felt a tap on her shoulders. She was surprised to turn around and see Vega standing there. "Now what is a pretty lady like you doing without a partner?"
She smiled and took his outstretched hand. They walked to the dance floor as a band began to play another song. The men left at the head table watched them. One of them spoke with a stiff voice. "It appears that you were wrong. And I have won the bet."
The other one scowled. "He was never like this before. It was only natural to see him as a little queer."
The third man had a stern look on his face. "Something is not right about him. He is much too different than he used to be. And he has been quite anxious as of late."
The first man looked at him. "Anyone in his situation would be anxious to get out of his job."
The third responded. "No, it's not that. It's something more. Chombers was never a fighter, yet he played an integral role in the Moroccan mission. He was always talkative, yet he has kept too himself as of late. He doesn't respond to his name and his laugh is very different. It's of a much higher pitch."
The second man questioned him. "And what exactly are you insinuating?"
The third never averted his gaze. "That this man may not be Nigel."
The first man scoffed. 'That's preposterous. Who the hell would that man be then?"
The third's frown grew. "That I do not know."
While they were talking the dance floor seemed to stop. They were all watching Vega and Cammy. They danced marvelously in the middle of the floor. A knock was heard on the window but the majority of those on the floor gave it no regard. They couldn't ignore the screams, which came when a multitude came running along.
One of the men pulled a runner inside. "What is the meaning of this? What is going on?"
The man was grasping for breath. "Explosion, downtown, big, fire." The man was babbling and the other man pushed him away.
Wolfman and Luwanda looked at each other. "I guess the dance is over." They nodded and ran out. Cammy followed and despite the glare of the men at the table Vega followed them.
The movement was slow against the crowd. Vega caught up to them. "It would be faster if we moved atop of the buildings. We wouldn't have to worry about the current."
Wolfman turned his head to him and nodded. They ran into an ally and Wolfman and Luwanda began to climb the fire extinguisher. Vega grabbed Cammy and leapt up the wall. They waited at the top for Wolfman and Luwanda then began to run across the rooftops. They could see the black smoke in the air as they got closer to the city. When the reached the final rooftop they stopped cold in their tracks.
Vega looked around at the wreckage. "Oh my god, Matthew and George are down there?"
Cammy's eyes widened. "My god, they are!"
Cammy, Wolfman, and Luwanda looked at each other. There was now no one coming out of the city. They made their way down from the building and walked into the smoking wreckage. Whole chunks of buildings were knocked off and sat on the ground. Brick sides were charred black and windows were blown out. They heard sirens approaching as they walked through. A wall, which was lying on a rubble heap, collapsed and they saw movement. When they saw Matthew slowly rising to his feet Cammy ran to him and hugged him. Everyone else also ran up to him. Luwanda grabbed and held George close to her. Matthew had shielded him.
Wolfman looked around them only to find that there were no more survivors. "What happened here? Who did this?"
Matthew was breathing heavily. "The man. He pointed any everything was gone."
Wolfman was confused. "One man? How could one man do this?"
Matthew had the same tone. "He said no one was worthy. He pointed to the ground, and everything blew up. Me and George were already gone, that's how we survived."
Luwanda looked at Wolfman. "One man?"
He nodded his head. "If Matthew says it was, than I believe him. But what I want to know is what kind of power it is that could destroy a portion of a city this large." He looked up on the horizon. "And what will it take to stop it?"